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    • OCD
    • Personality Disorders
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  • What Is Stress?What Is Stress?
  • What Is Anxiety?What Is Anxiety?
  • What Is the Difference?What Is the Difference?
  • What Causes Them?What Causes Them?
  • Can Stress Cause Anxiety?Can Stress Cause Anxiety?
  • How to Distinguish Between ThemHow to Distinguish Between Them
  • How to Manage ThemHow to Manage Them
  • Treatment OptionsTreatment Options
  • In My ExperienceIn My Experience
  • Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources
  • InfographicsInfographics
Anxiety Articles Anxiety Anxiety Treatment Anxiety Types Online Therapy for Anxiety

Stress Vs. Anxiety: Understanding the Difference

Headshot of Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS

Author: Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS

Headshot of Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS

Hailey Shafir LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS

Hailey specializes in adults, children, and families with addiction and mental health disorders.

See My Bio Editorial Policy
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Medical Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, Pharm.D Licensed medical reviewer

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Dena Westphalen PharmD

Dr. Dena Westphalen is a pharmacist with expertise in clinical research and drug information. She has interests in neurology, oncology, and global health.

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Published: February 21, 2024
  • What Is Stress?What Is Stress?
  • What Is Anxiety?What Is Anxiety?
  • What Is the Difference?What Is the Difference?
  • What Causes Them?What Causes Them?
  • Can Stress Cause Anxiety?Can Stress Cause Anxiety?
  • How to Distinguish Between ThemHow to Distinguish Between Them
  • How to Manage ThemHow to Manage Them
  • Treatment OptionsTreatment Options
  • In My ExperienceIn My Experience
  • Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources
  • InfographicsInfographics

Stress and anxiety are terms many people use interchangeably, but these two experiences differ in many ways. Stress is a physiological response to any challenging, unexpected, or overwhelming event. Conversely, anxiety can occur with or without a noticeable trigger, resulting in nervousness, restlessness, and unease.

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We’re going to do a deep dive on anxiety vs stress in this article, but some of you may enjoy the quick overview provided in this helpful from Michelle Risser, LISW-S:

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What Is Stress?

Stress is the physiological response to challenging, scary, or unpredictable situations. The body reacts by preparing a person to fight or flee from danger, resulting in increased heart rate, blood pressure, and energy. Stress can be positive or negative, depending on the cause and outcomes. For example, eustress can motivate a person to reach their goals, while distress can lead to anxiety or health problems.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety refers to intense and extreme worry or restlessness. Like stress, experiencing some anxiety when facing difficult or unexpected situations is normal. However, severe or extreme fear can indicate an underlying anxiety disorder. Symptoms of anxiety can feel debilitating and impact nearly every aspect of life.

Stress Vs. Anxiety: What Is the Difference?

The difference between stress and anxiety is complex, as both experiences can resemble and feed into one another. In many cases, stress can precede anxiety and vice versa. However, what separates stress from anxiety includes symptom presentation, potential causes, and associated impacts.

Below are the differences between stress and anxiety:1

Presenting Symptoms

Symptoms of stress and anxiety can be similar, and both reactions can increase heart rate and feelings of tension. However, stress is usually a short-term response to a specific event that resolves after individuals remove the stressor. Anxiety, on the other hand, tends to be more long-term and can appear with no identifiable trigger.

Differences Between Stress & Anxiety Symptoms

Symptoms of StressSymptoms of Anxiety
Racing heartRacing thoughts
Difficulty breathingNervousness or worry
Feeling shaky or unstableWorse-case-scenario thinking
DizzinessFeelings of dread or panic
Tenseness in muscles or chestHypervigilance
Feeling suffocatedFeeling restless, jumpy, or on-edge

Possible Causes

The causes of stress are generally identifiable and measurable. For instance, individuals may experience stress about an upcoming exam, job interview, or cross-country move. Conversely, anxiety can result from both rational and irrational factors, and the possible triggers are more broad. People with anxiety may have a general fear of something bad happening, even without factual evidence to suggest imminent danger.

Intensity of Reactions

Anxiety is often a powerful overreaction to a triggering person, place, or situation. These responses appear disproportionate to the event, especially when symptoms occur without an obvious trigger. For example, a person with social anxiety may feel entirely overwhelmed by the thought of interacting with others. On the other hand, stress primarily elicits predictable physical reactions, such as a racing heartbeat, sweating, or rapid breathing.

Impact on Functioning

A primary difference between anxiety and stress is the impact on the ability to function. As noted, stress is typically short-lived as long as individuals manage exposure to stressors. However, paralyzing anxiety can result in excessive worry and fear that significantly impact concentration, physical health, emotional regulation, and social capabilities.

Associated Feelings of Dread

Fear or dread often accompanies anxiety. For instance, a person experiencing anxiety may jump to worst-case scenarios, believing a specific event or trigger will lead to negative or dire consequences. On the other hand, stress does not typically produce such extreme beliefs, and many people may simply feel overwhelmed or worn out.

Symptom Duration & Intensity

Stress can be overwhelming when facing difficulties, but people can reduce the impacts by addressing the trigger. Conversely, anxiety is often pervasive and enduring, leaving individuals feeling incapable of making change or moving forward.

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What Causes Stress & Anxiety?

One of the primary differences between stress and anxiety is that stress is usually related to one or more specific, identifiable factors. Anxiety is a mental health condition that can stem from temperament, brain chemistry, or life experiences. Anxiety is not always connected to a clear trigger and can seem to arise out of nowhere.

Common stress triggers include:

  • Getting or losing a job
  • Starting or ending a significant relationship
  • Moving or other life transitions
  • Dealing with a death or disability
  • Emerging or chronic health problems
  • Experiencing trauma

Common anxiety triggers include:

  • New people or social situations
  • Public speaking
  • Specific phobias
  • Being judged by others
  • Feeling that things are out of place

Can Stress Cause Anxiety?

Stress-induced anxiety can occur when individuals feel overwhelmed by stressors. They may feel incapable of changing their situation or reducing exposure to triggers. Eventually, they may develop anxiety symptoms like worry, nervousness, fear, shaking, or sweating.

How to Distinguish Stress Vs. Anxiety

Distinguishing the signs of stress and anxiety can be difficult. However, an easy way to recognize the difference is to examine the rationality behind your reaction. Are you responding to a specific event, like job loss? Are your fears grounded in truth? Take a step back and explore what precedes your negative emotions to determine if your symptoms relate to anxiety or stress.

Below are questions to ask yourself about feeling stressed or anxious:

  • When did I start feeling like this?
  • Where does this feeling come from?
  • Will this feeling go away if I resolve the stressor?
  • Are my feelings proportionate to what is happening?
  • Did something trigger these exacerbated feelings?
  • Do I always feel this way?
  • When don’t I feel this way?
  • How are these feelings impacting my day and life?
  • What physical symptoms am I experiencing?

How to Manage Stress & Anxiety

Constant stress and anxiety can leave you feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. However, healthy coping skills, social support, and self-care can help you cope. Everyone experiences stress and anxiety differently, so strategies that work for one person may not meet your needs. Consider incorporating exercise, mindfulness, and regular self-care into your routine so you can better manage anxiety and stress as they occur.

Below are 9 ways to cope with stress and anxiety:

1. Take Care of Your Body With Exercise

Symptoms of high stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your physical health. However, regular exercise helps rebalance hormones and chemicals associated with the fight-or-flight response so you feel calmer and less restless. Even short bursts of movement can improve your mood, whether a brisk walk at lunchtime or a dance session at home.

2. Start a Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness for anxiety and stress helps train the mind to unhook from unhelpful thoughts that feed into worry and restlessness. Being present with and accepting your emotions allows you to recognize when you overreact to a situation or trigger. You can use this self-awareness to understand that these negative feelings are temporary and will pass.

3. Embrace Your Support System

Leaning on your friends, family, or community during times of stress and anxiety can help you feel less alone. Your loved ones can provide perspective and emotional validation. Sometimes, just talking through and processing your emotions aloud is beneficial.

4. Set Manageable Goals

Breaking down overwhelming tasks into small, achievable action steps can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Doing so provides a sense of accomplishment and motivation as you work toward a goal.

5. Get Adequate Sleep

Not getting quality sleep can make everything feel more unmanageable, including stress and anxiety. Prioritize sleep by practicing relaxation strategies before bed and healthy sleep hygiene. Start by limiting caffeine in the afternoon and establishing a regular nighttime routine.

6. Make Time for Breaks

Stop, take a break, and step away at the first sign of stress. Pushing through when your brain and body need rest is how stress becomes chronic and leads to anxiety. Regularly incorporate rest periods throughout the day to promote relaxation, balance, and calm.

7. Try Journaling

Journaling can be a great way to process feelings and identify patterns that might contribute to stress and anxiety. Consider setting time aside to write about anything that comes to mind. Allow your thoughts to flow freely, and revisit these pages when you need insight into possible triggers and solutions.

8. Practice Stress Management Skills

Stress management skills could include mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, breathing, time management strategies, or setting goals. These tools can be effective for preventing and managing overwhelm. Regular practice can help rewire your brain and body to respond differently to stress so you can approach situations with more insight and clarity.

9. Identify Your Triggers

Take note of the people, places, or situations that contribute to stress and anxiety. While these may not always be avoidable, having increased insight into triggers can help you develop coping skills for dealing with them.

Treatment for Stress & Anxiety

Treating severe stress and anxiety may include a combination of therapy and medication. A supportive professional will normalize your experience as they work with you toward improvement. Many may recommend lifestyle changes or natural remedies for anxiety to use alongside traditional treatment. An online therapist directory can help you find the right therapist specializing in anxiety treatment.

Below are treatment options for stress and anxiety:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps a person identify and challenge negative thoughts that contribute to their stress and anxiety. Changing those negative thoughts helps individuals see their situation in a more realistic and positive light.
  • Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT): MBCT combines CBT with mindfulness practices, including meditation and breathing exercises. This approach teaches people to notice the present moment without judgment.
  • Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy helps individuals identify their fears and create a hierarchy, rating anxieties from the least to most distressing. The person will then face these fears one by one, which can desensitize the stress and anxiety response.
  • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT combines mindfulness techniques with CBT to help clients notice their thoughts without judgment. Individuals learn to make decisions based on their deepest values rather than thoughts or fears.

In My Experience

Headshot of Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS
In my experience, telling the difference between stress and anxiety can be difficult. They often feel the same in the body and create a racing heart rate, sweaty palms, and feelings of fear. Regardless, address stress early and develop healthy coping skills before your symptoms become chronic and turn into anxiety.

Additional Resources

To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.

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Best Online Therapy for Anxiety of 2024

Best Online Therapy for Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health issues in the world. To find the best online therapy for anxiety, we reviewed over 50 providers. Our evaluation focused on their geographic coverage area, cost, convenience, extra features, and more. Our top recommendations are based on more than three years of research and over 250 hours of hands-on testing. Read on to see our top picks for the best online anxiety counseling platforms.

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Online psychiatry, sometimes called telepsychiatry, platforms offer medication management by phone, video, or secure messaging for a variety of mental health conditions. In some cases, online psychiatry may be more affordable than seeing an in-person provider. Mental health treatment has expanded to include many online psychiatry and therapy services. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming to find the one that is right for you.

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Stress Vs. Anxiety Infographics

Stress Vs. Anxiety: What Is the Difference? Differences Between Stress and a Anxiety How to Distinguish Stress Vs. Anxiety 9 ways to cope with stress and anxiety

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Sources Update History

ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • American Psychological Association. (2019). What’s the difference between stress and anxiety? Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/topics/stress-anxiety-difference

Show more Click here to open the article sources container.

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

May 6, 2025
Author: No Change
Reviewer: No Change
Primary Changes: Added Anxiety Workbook with nine worksheets.
February 21, 2024
Author: Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS (No Change)
Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, PharmD (No Change)
Primary Changes: Revised sections titled “Stress Vs. Anxiety: What Is the Difference,” “What Causes Stress & Anxiety,” “How to Manage Stress & Anxiety,” and “Treatment for Stress & Anxiety” to improve factual accuracy. Added sections titled “What Is Stress,” “What Is Anxiety,” “Can Stress Cause Anxiety” and “How to Distinguish Stress Vs. Anxiety.” Fact-checked and edited for improved readability and clarity. New content written by Michelle Risser, LISW-S and medically reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD.
December 1, 2022
Author: Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS (No Change)
Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, PharmD (No Change)
Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources. Added “What Is Stress?”, “What Is Anxiety?”, and “How to Tell If You’re Experiencing Anxiety vs Stress”. New material written by Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C and reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD.
March 31, 2022
Author: Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS (No Change)
Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, PharmD (No Change)
Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources. Added “Anxiety Is an Overreaction to a Situation”, “Anxiety Can Cause Inability to Function”, “Causes of Stress and Anxiety”, and “When to See a Doctor.” New material written by Eric Patterson, LPC and reviewed by Dena Westphalen, PharmD.
August 6, 2020
Author: Hailey Shafir, LCMHCS, LPCS, LCAS, CCS
Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Show more Click here to open the article update history container.

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